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With the Trump administration planning to slash the National Park Service's budget, a new proposal could see entrance fees for 17 of the most-visited national parks in the country more than double during peak months. In an effort to boost revenue to pay "for improvements to the aging infrastructure of national parks," the Department of Interior has proposed increasing entrance fees from $25 to $30 for a private non-commercial vehicle to $70 during the busiest five-month period at parks including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Glacier, Denali, and Mount Rainier, reports KTLA. Pedestrians would be charged $30, up from $10 to $15, increasing revenue by an estimated $70 million per year, according to a release.

Under the proposal, which would be instituted beginning in 2018, an annual park pass would cost $75, while a pass permitting entry to all US national parks would remain at its current $80 fee. The park service is accepting public comments on the proposal until Nov. 23 but has already come under fire. Noting the Trump administration "just proposed a major cut to the National Park Service budget," the president of the National Parks Conservation Association says administration officials must "work with Congress to address the maintenance backlog." The costs of repairs to a park "cannot and should not be largely shouldered by its visitors," she adds in a statement, per CNN, expressing concern that the change would make parks "unaffordable."

Several years ago while entering a National Park in Utah I was offered a lifetime Senior pass to all National Parks for $10.00. Now that was a deal!

RealTruths

Oct 25, 2017 2:22 PM CDT

WHY should there be Stupid Rules for Government things?? RAISE the Prices to cover cost.. But don't try to fix everything the first year.. This is EXACTLY what you would do .. If you owned them as a business... They needs to pay their OWN way.. And those who uses them.(like me and my family). Must pay for them..

Aka Mogg

Oct 25, 2017 12:18 PM CDT

How about a mandatory annual pass, say at $100 that you must buy to enter any National Park but that permits a family to visit ALL national parks? Or maybe one pass per person, like a wilderness passport with a range of fees for kids, adults, seniors but still a universal, annual permit. Or maybe just fund the parks for preservation out of taxes to preserve a National necessity, like we fund Washington only one that would make Americans proud and happy.